J.R. Briggs

the 3 types of questions we ask

November 14, 2011

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Recently I finished reading Terry Fadem’s book The Art of Asking: Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers. It’s a business management book, but as a pastor and a life coach, I am always looking to learn to become better at asking questions – no matter what the source may be. (One of the most helpful books I read a few years ago was the autobiography of Larry King). Sometimes it is better to question the answers than it is to answer the questions. The best question-askers have been – and will be – the best teachers.

Fadem, with his extensive experience as a business manager, gives a thorough look into the art of asking good questions, why they are important, the attributes of a person who asks good questions and the significance of timing in asking a good question. The topic made me want to learn more on the subject. I’m convinced that learning to ask great questions at the right time is an incredible way to build trust and deepen relationships with others. 

Fadem explores the 24 different types of questions – and explains the importance of each type and gives numerous examples of each:

1. direct questions
2. indirect questions
3. open questions
4. closed questions
5. stupid questions
6. filtering questions
7. double-direct questions
8. hypothetical questions
9. provocative questions
10. rhetorical questions
11. reflective questions
12. leading questions
13. the pause as question
14. silent questions
15. one-word questions
16. divergent questions
17. convergent questions
18. redirecting questions
19. negative questions
20. either/or questions
21. loaded questions
22. trick questions
23. dual-answer closed questions
24. general reference questions (to keep handy)

In the gospels, Jesus asked lots of questions. 180 questions to be exact.

Surprisingly, he only answered three of them. Just three.

Jesus was the master question-asker. Which prompts the question: if we seek to follow Jesus, shouldn’t we grow and learn how to be the best question-askers on the planet, like him?

Of all the 24 types of questions listed above, I see three primary categories of questions: information/clarification, suspicion and hope. 

Information/clarification: where you want to learn and know (for various reasons and motives) what is happening.

Suspicion: questions rooted in distrust, questioning the credibility of something or someone. (Our postmodern culture is rooted in this hermeneutic of suspicion and these types of questions are everywhere).

Hope: these questions, built on trust, are hope-filled questions rooted in anticipation for the future. I recently came across this quote: “trust empowers by the questions it removes.” When trust is present, negative questions are removed so hopeful questions can be asked. Questions like “What if?” and “Imagine if we…?” When a culture is created where these questions are asked often, there is a great amount of permission and potential for creativity.

Think about the past week:

• What was the best question you were asked? The best question you asked?
• Was it a question rooted in information/clarification, suspicion or hope?
• What types of questions did you ask the most – information/clarification, suspicion or trust? Why? 
• What might be the best question you could ask in the next 48 hours? Who could you ask? 

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